Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/07/13
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]At 4:25 PM -0700 7/13/00, Rich Lahrson wrote: >Hi! > > A 135mm/4 AP0/ASPH/MICRO lens. This should work on the Visoflex for >stellar close-ups, it should be a traditional lens type, without floating >elements to preserve longer working distances from the subject. > > A 75mm/2 lens. This would be much smaller than the 75/1.4 and yet >still fast. > > As long as I'm ordering Leitz about, they should re-introduce their >enlarger. > > Cheers, > > Rich Lahrson > tripspud@wenet.net This post is OFF TOPIC, as there is no Leica adulation. Please treat accordingly. I recently got a Canon 100/2.8 micro USM. This is a newly computed lens, and has a number of innovative features, optically speaking. It is totally IF, the first macro lens in this range to have that distinction, as far as I know. Up to now, being IF or having floating elements in an optical design for a macro lens has usually meant that the optics work like a zoom lens and reduce the focal length, allowing closer focussing with less helicoid extension and less effective aperture loss while correcting for the close focussing. However, as noted in Rich's post, the working distance usually suffers. This lens works differently. It does not reduce the focal length, in fact, it increases it slightly! Working distance is maintained, and the angle of view stays as narrow as that of a non-floating element lens! A remarkable achievement. The only downside to this is that the lens starts out, and stays a rather long 115mm from the mounting flange. A big lens. But put Canon's new ringlight on it, and macro becomes more direct and more under control than ever before. Not easier; not with all the options which the new electronic equipment makes you deal with, but more under control. All in all, a major achievement, especially optically. * Henning J. Wulff /|\ Wulff Photography & Design /###\ mailto:henningw@archiphoto.com |[ ]| http://www.archiphoto.com